Packaging Wrap Handle

ABSTRACT

A handle usable for loading and applying a packaging wrap material, such as a stretch film, includes two grips or user gripping locations, a structural base and a reel for engaging a roll of packaging wrap material. In use, the roll is placed on the reel, which rotates relative to the handle to facilitate wrapping items for packaging. A hand brake is included that is usable to control or stop the rotation of the reel in order to control the tension applied to the packaging wrap material when applying it to items. In an exemplary manner of use, a shipping pallet is loaded with items to be shipped and a stretch film is wrapped around the items, using the handle, under controlled pressure to provide a tight wrap around the items.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application No. 61/969,713 filed on Mar. 24, 2014, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device and method for dispensing packaging wrap from a roll. In particular, the present invention relates to a handle for holding a roll of packaging wrap material and a method of dispensing the packaging wrap material using the handle.

BACKGROUND

Packaging wrap material is typically produced on rolls that facilitate wrapping goods for shipping or storage to protect the goods and to firmly hold the goods in place. For example, goods are frequently stacked on pallets or crates and then wrapped with a stretch film to hold the goods together as a cohesive unit. It is preferable that the stretch film be wrapped around the goods under slight tension to better hold the goods together. The further background of packaging wrap materials and devices can be gathered by referring to U.S. Pat. No. 7,552,891 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,480, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety as if fully restated herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is an improved handle usable for dispensing packaging wrap material. According to an exemplary embodiment, the handle includes a brake that controls the rate at which rolled goods are dispensed from the handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of facilitating and understanding the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

FIG. 1 is a an elevated isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a handle according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail at least one preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to any of the specific embodiments illustrated.

As shown in FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a handle includes a base portion 10, a first extension 20 and a second extension 30. In various exemplary embodiments, the first extension 20 includes a grip 22, a hand brake 24 and a cable 26. In various exemplary embodiments the second extension 30 includes a grip 32 and a reel 40. The reel 40 is capable of maintaining a roll of packaging wrap material 36.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base portion 10 is connected to the second extension 30. In various exemplary embodiments bearing surface or ball bearings 38 are provided between surface 42 and flange 12 such that a reel 40 rotates relative to the extension 30 and base portion 10. The reel 40, in turn, engages the roll of packaging wrap material 36. Accordingly, the roll of packaging wrap material 36 rotates relative to the second extension 30.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the handle includes grips 22 and 32 such that the handle can be held in two hands while the reel 40 rotates relative to the second extension 30 and the handle. The handle also includes the hand brake 24 and cable 26. Squeezing the handle of the hand brake 24 pulls on the cable 26. The cable 26 runs through the first extension 20 and into or through the base portion 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cable 26 emerges through the base portion 10 and is connected to a brake pad 50 at point 52. The brake pad 50 is attached to the base portion 10 at hinge or pivot point 54. Accordingly, when the hand brake 24 (shown in FIG. 1) is squeezed, the cable 26 is tightened (e.g., is pulled through first extension 20) and thus pulls connection point 52 toward the first extension 20. The movement of the cable 26 causes the brake pad 50 to rotate or pivot about the hinge or pivot point 54 such that an inner surface 56 engages a portion of the reel 40 that extends below or into the base portion 10.

In use, by manipulating the hand brake 24, a user can control the tension of the packaging wrap material exiting the roll 36 by controlling the friction exerted on the reel 40 by the brake pad 50. Meanwhile the grips 22 and 32 facilitate comfortable two-handed control of the handle.

The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants' contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art. 

1. A packaging wrap dispenser comprising: a rigid structural base; a first extension protruding from a first surface of the rigid structural base; and a second extension protruding from the first surface; the first extension including a user gripping portion, and a hand brake; and the second extension including a reel rotationally connected to the second extension, and a user gripping portion.
 2. The packaging wrap dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a roll of packaging wrap material maintained by the reel.
 3. The packaging wrap dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a brake pad.
 4. The packaging wrap dispenser of claim 3, wherein the brake pad is pivotally connected to the rigid structural base at a first end of the brake pad.
 5. The packaging wrap dispenser of claim 4, wherein the brake pad is attached to a first end of a brake cable at a second end of the brake pad.
 6. The packaging wrap dispense of claim 5, wherein a second end of the brake cable is attached to the hand brake.
 7. The packaging wrap dispenser of claim 3, wherein the brake pad is configured to be operable by the hand brake.
 8. The packaging wrap dispenser of claim 3, wherein the brake pad is configured to control a rate of rotation of the reel relative to the second extension.
 9. The packaging wrap dispenser of claim 8, wherein the hand brake is configured to control an amount of pressure applied to the reel by the brake pad.
 10. A packaging wrap dispenser comprising: a first handle; a second handle connected to the first handle; a reel; and a hand brake connected to the first handle; wherein the hand brake is configured to control a rate of rotation of the reel.
 11. The packaging wrap dispenser of claim 10, further comprising a linkage member between the first and second handles.
 12. The packaging wrap dispenser of claim 10, further comprising a brake pad operable connected to the hand brake.
 13. The packaging wrap dispenser of claim 12, wherein the brake pad is configured to control a rate of rotation of the reel.
 14. The packaging wrap dispenser of claim 12, wherein the hand brake and brake pad are configured such that operation of the hand brake controls an amount of pressure applies to the reel by the brake pad.
 15. The packaging wrap dispenser of claim 14, wherein the hand brake and brake pad are connected by a brake cable.
 16. A method of wrapping a parcel with a packaging wrap comprising the steps of: providing a roll of packaging wrap on a reel, the reel being connected to first and second handles; engaging the parcel with a terminal end of the packaging wrap from the roll; moving the reel around the parcel to encircle the parcel with packaging wrap dispensed from the roll; operating a hand brake to control a rate of rotation of the reel; providing a desired level of tension to the packaging wrap as the reel is moved around the parcel.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein operating a hand brake further comprises varying an amount of pressure exerted on the reel by a brake pad.
 18. The method of claim 17, providing a desired level of tension further comprises applying a desired amount of pressure on the reel with the brake pad.
 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising tearing the packaging wrap by increasing the tension beyond the tensile strength of the packaging wrap.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising operating a cutting edge to cut the packaging wrap being dispensed by the reel. 